Herbie reported what a lot of UM types were whispering in private sectors, but not publishing on front pages. ESPN has a long history of running with innuendo, unfortunately it caused unnecessary ruckus for LSU on a big day. BTW, I believe the superdome may explode with all the "motivation" being pumped into it by both fanbases I really don't feel like repeating myself, so please see my first post that isn't arguing this point at all. Mike chose to erroneously call me out on the pre-clarification comments by Miles, nothing more. My question still stands. What does Miles offer that is unique enough to risk the PR fallout on both sides? It just doesn't make much sense to me. Maybe it's all a smokescreen to appease UM fans, and Miles was indeed never truly a candidate (which would mesh with the preferences of a few higher ups). But if not, the advice line just doesn't ring very true. lol, I've heard a lot of spinoffs... but northern speed has never been part of it
First, you're assuming that Miles -- when he took the phone call that UM initiated last week -- understood that PR fallout was a risk because he probably assumed that the phone call would not be leaked. I doubt that he would take the phone call this week. Second, everyone is not assuming that the phone call was strictly about helping with the coaching search. That might have been the reason Miles said he took the call, and he probably did offer some advice, but it was really just everyone going through the motions so that fences could be mended. Neither side wants to burn bridges with the other for a variety of reasons that do not include Miles coaching at UM in 2008. Finally, though I'm sure the phone call touched on a number of topics, I'd say that Miles has incredible unique insight to offer UM. He could write a treatise called, "How Not To Totally **** Up A Coaching Search And Make Yourself Look Like Seriously Incompetent Tools By Ignoring Your Most Prominent Alumni -- Who Is Both A Former Player And A Winning Head Coach -- And Royally Pissing Off Your Fanbase In The Process". I'm sure the advice was much more along the line of "this isn't how you treat people" than "You missed out on a real gem in Houston Nutt". I don't doubt that Michigan made CLM an offer in that last phone call. I also firmly believe that Miles made up his mind to stay at LSU before the SECCG, and that any offer coming from Michigan thereafter was strictly coming from Michigan, and made in large part to mend fences. Les, by saying that he offered advice -- which I'm sure he did -- was doing Michigan a favor and letting them save face. He really does love the university, and I doubt he'd want to publicly turn them down twice. If I were in a similar position, I'd hate to be the person to throw egg on LSU's face, seriously.
Also, if it was in any way in regard to the possiblities of him taking the job, he'd still be "Helping with the coaching search". :wink:
You could spin it that way, but that's getting into "what the definition of 'is' is" IMO. I don't think Miles is quite that adept at parsing language. If he'd said something like, "I was helping put together a quality coaching search", then I'd get worried as he'd really be using coach-speech, instead of just saying something and having everyone in the country attempt to parlay it into coach-speech.
Might also be the UM AD manning up to apologize in person for the pre SEC CCG drama that caused a major distraction to his team... The advice thing is really just a nice way of not calling anyone out on either side (cept LoveBug).:grin:
